How are we to understand the words of Abraham (peace be upon him) in Surat Al-An'am: "When night covered him he saw a star. He said, 'This is my Lord.' But when it set, he said, 'I love not those that set'," and the context in which it was revealed, taking into consideration Ibn Kathir's interpretation that it came in the context of disputing with the disbelievers, in order to refute the misuse of the verse by enemies of Islam?

Allah Almighty states that He showed His intimate friend, Abraham (peace be upon him), the dominion of the heavens and the earth, so that he would be among those of firm faith. Abraham said, "This is my Lord," by way of descending to the level of his people to establish proof against them. Scholars have mentioned that Abraham was not contemplating, reflecting, or deducing the Oneness of his Lord through this. Rather, he was debating his people, demonstrating to them the falsehood of their worship of idols and planets, and proving that these celestial bodies are unfit for divinity because they are subservient and predetermined, possessing no power over their own actions. Then Abraham affirmed that the only One worthy of worship is Allah alone, without partner.